MARSHFIELD – After losing four of their first five games last season, the Marshfield High School football team won four straight to grab a playoff spot as a No. 6 seed in Div. 2. The Tigers’ final regular-season loss was at D.C. Everest on Sept. 19, which cost them a conference championship.
Heading into the 2026 season, Head Coach Denny Goettl is excited to have the lion’s share of last year’s team back.
“We saw a lot of our team that’s going to be this year’s play really well towards the end of the season,” Goettl told Hub City Times on Aug. 6. “We had a lot of juniors starting in a lot of key positions and that’s a big hope for us coming back.”
Goettl, entering his 17th season as Tigers’ head coach, is most excited about his all-senior offensive line, anchored by left tackle, Jace Frick.
“He’s a 6’4” kid. Really agile. Really mobile,” Goettl told us.
Oliver Martin is slotted in as the left guard.
“Had a great breakout season last year,” said Goettl. “Really knows how to help out in our zone schemes.”
At center is Cooper Berry.
“Really a nice player. Had a good year last year.”
The Tigers’ right guard is Grant Allar, a third-year player at that position.
“He’s proven himself so far in the last couple years, so a proven lineman,” said Goettl.
At 270 pounds, right tackle Hunter Plomedahl is Coach Goettl’s biggest offensive lineman.
“Didn’t get a lot of playing time last year, but was a spell guy,” Goettl told us. “He would go in and take over for dudes, so [we’re] hoping for great things from him. He’s not proven yet, but he’s another big kid, so another good-looking kid as a lineman.”
One of the surprises from last season’s team was then-freshman quarterback, Ethan Foemmel.
“He’s a really sharp dude,” said Goettl. “Student of the game. He’s thinking all the time. He’s researching and studying quarterback play all the time. Good leader. Good athlete and has taken control already right away this season and all summer long. He’s put the time in, so it’s really showing how much he wants this job.
“Last year was a weird thing,” Goettl added about Foemmel’s rise to QB1. “His father is our wide receiver coach, so he had to bring him to practice every day, so he said, ‘You might as well come and practice, just to get some work with me and the other guys on offense,’ and he just showed that he was really mature, so we gave him a shot and he flourished.”
Marshfield also returns running back Haiden Carlson, last year’s All-Wisconsin Valley/Big Rivers East Conference Offensive Player of the Year. As a junior, Carlson rushed for 1,538 yards and 16 touchdowns a season ago.
Joining Carlson in the backfield again this season is senior fullback, Josh Taylor.
“And Reid Scheuer is a junior that’s done a lot in the weight room,” said Goettl. “He’s shown a lot of strength. He’s got some good things happening. He’ll be the second fullback right now.”
Derek Stroetz is another senior who will contribute as a starting tight end. Junior Ben Krause will also see some playing time at that position.
Senior Cam Kolstad and junior Gavin Larsen will be the Tigers’ go-to wide receivers this year. They will be joined by seniors Adrian Pieper and Landen Trubee. Junior Lucas Vanden Elzen will be another key contributor at the wideout position, says Goettl.
Along the defensive line, Marshfield has back senior Robert Thorsen, who sat out his junior year with a knee injury.
Junior Wyatt Novitzke tops the nose tackle depth chart right now.
Josh Taylor will fill a wild card spot on defense.
“We’re going to put him anywhere we want to,” Goettl disclosed. “He can play nose [tackle]. He can stand up and play defensive end. He can play linebacker if we need to. He’s one of those kids.”
Senior Kaden Reisner will also fill a defensive end spot.
Senior Chris Ugoretz will play outside linebacker, along with junior, Brennan Polzin.
Senior Lukas Halan will anchor the middle linebacker spot.
“He’s one of the strongest, fastest kids on our team,” Goettl shared. “He runs really well. He can chase things down from all over the field. Just really excited for him. Man, if he can play, our defense is going to be tough.”
Senior Wesley Novitzke is another middle linebacker.
“His dad played linebacker for D.C. Everest,” Goettl told us. “He’s got dad’s nose for the football, that’s for sure. He fills holes.”
“As green as you could possibly be,” Goettl says of his secondary. “But, all seniors, right now, playing all the defensive back positions.”
Harland Meissner is slotted in at cornerback.
“I think he’s a boundary corner,” said Goettl. “He was a running back last year. Still can be a running back this year. Really fast kid. He was on our 4x1, 4x2 state-qualifying relay teams, so he’s a quick kid. We’re hoping he can run with receivers and make tackles when he needs to. Never played corner before in his life, so green, but a senior.”
Senior Trevyn Freis will join Meissner in the secondary.
“He was a quarterback last year and we moved him over to safety,” Goettl told us. “He’s a big, solid kid and he’s a quarterback, so he knows what offenses are doing.”
The one returning secondary player for the Tigers is Kashton Kilty, who played both cornerback and safety a season ago.
Trubee will be another safety, and another player the Tigers will have to use on both sides of the football.
“The number of kids playing football has definitely been dropping,” Goettl said. “Who knows what that is? I don’t. Nobody knows, but it’s a trend.”
Goettl’s coaching staff remains the same as last season.
Len Luedtke, Jr. returns as defensive coordinator and also coaches defensive linemen, along with Ben Corcoran.
Matt Immerfall coaches defensive backs.
Jon Boyle coaches linebackers.
Ryan Brandt returns as offensive coordinator and running backs coach.
Randy Hartwig and Jim Sadowska oversee the offensive linemen.
Jason Foemmel coaches wide receivers, while Brian Fravert handles tight ends.
The Tigers open their season Aug. 21 at Rice Lake. Marshfield will host River Falls on Aug. 28 and Eau Claire North on Sept. 4.
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